hagberry tree

9.9

A small European cherry tree with clusters of dark berries

noun

Archaic

: árbol de cereza silvestre

The hagberry tree is valued for its ornamental flowers and clusters of dark berries.

Examples

Birds flocked to the hagberry tree to feed on its ripening fruit in late summer.
Along the old country lane, a single hagberry tree stood in bloom each spring.
The hagberry tree produces small, dark berries.
In spring, the hagberry tree blooms beautifully.
Birds flocked to the hagberry tree to feed on its ripening fruit in late summer.
The hagberry tree is valued for its ornamental flowers and clusters of dark berries.
Along the old country lane, a single hagberry tree stood in bloom each spring.

Synonyms

Prunus padus

vshagberry tree

Specialized

9.9

A small European tree with clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers and small bitter black cherries

is the common term highlighting small dark berries rather than the scientific label

European bird cherry

vshagberry tree

7.9

A small European tree that has groups of white flowers and small black fruit

is a common name focusing on berry clusters and resemblance to an American species

common bird cherry

vshagberry tree

9.2

A small European tree with clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers and black fruit eaten by birds

is the common term that matches this description closely rather than a technical name

hagberry

vshagberry tree

Archaic

9.9

A small wild tree with dark cherries that birds eat

is the tree name stressing clusters of small dark berries instead of bird use

Surface Forms

hagberry tree singular

hagberry trees plural

Morphology

hagberry + tree

The compound is a straightforward noun + noun construction: a 'hagberry tree' is simply a tree of the hagberry variety. If a B1 learner knows 'hagberry' (a small wild cherry) and 'tree', the combined meaning is directly predictable and cross-linguistically ordinary, so no special idiomatic knowledge is required.

Etymology

The name hagberry tree may come from an old word hag meaning 'hedge' and the simple word berry for its fruit. These small cherry trees often grew in hedges, so the name helps you remember it is a small tree with dark berries.